Movie · 2009 · Comedy, Romance, Drama · 1h 48m · PG-13 · English
Curator score: 3.0/10 (1.2M ratings)
Here comes the bribe...
Overview
When she learns she's in danger of losing her visa status and being deported, overbearing book editor Margaret Tate forces her put-upon assistant, Andrew Paxton, to marry her.
Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Malin Åkerman, Craig T. Nelson, Mary Steenburgen, Betty White, Denis O'Hare, Oscar Nuñez, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Nouri, Gregg Edelman, Michael Mosley, Dale Place, Alicia Hunt, Alexis Garcia, Kortney Adams, Chris Whitney, Jerrell Lee Wesley, Phyllis Kay, Kate Lacey
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, high-energy rom-com with strong star chemistry, brisk pacing, and a reliably funny fake-dating setup. It’s dated in places, but it still works as a crowd-pleasing comfort watch with sharp comic timing and a memorable supporting turn from Betty White.
Best for
fans of fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers stories
viewers who want a light, mainstream studio rom-com
people who like star-driven comedy with big personality
audiences looking for an easy rewatchable comfort movie
Skip if
you want romance with subtle realism
you’re sensitive to outdated cultural humor and workplace power dynamics
you prefer indie, character-driven relationship dramas
you dislike broad, high-concept rom-com plotting
Overview
The Proposal is one of those late-2000s studio rom-coms that knows exactly what it is: polished, fast-moving, and built around a charismatic central pairing. Sandra Bullock leans into Margaret’s icy control-freak energy, while Ryan Reynolds plays the exasperated assistant with just enough sincerity to keep the premise afloat. The movie’s best asset is how quickly it turns a ridiculous setup into a genuinely watchable flirtation game.
Worth noting
What makes it endure is the comic rhythm. The Alaska section gives the film a fish-out-of-water charge, and the supporting cast keeps the jokes landing even when the script gets broad. Betty White’s scenes are especially memorable, and the movie understands how to balance embarrassment, attraction, and escalating chaos without lingering too long on any one beat.
Bottom line
It’s also very much a product of its era, with some jokes and cultural details that haven’t aged gracefully. But if you’re in the mood for a glossy, easy rom-com with strong chemistry and a satisfying fake-relationship arc, it still delivers the goods.
Top Letterboxd reviews
bella 👻🖤✨ (4.5★) · 15753 likes
i’ve asked this question for 9 years. why was ryan reyonalds undressing outside on the balcony.
clownhead (3.5★) · 9000 likes
tag yourself im the grandmother who fakes her own death for true love
lauren (4★) · 8742 likes
writer #1: so we need a scene that shows the more expressive, laid back and fun side of margaret’s personality. anyone have any ideas?
writer #2: how about we make her do a tribal dance around a campfire in the alaskan woods with gammy, who’s dressed up in traditional native american clothing, to the beat of get low by lil jon & the east side boyz?
writer #1: ....steve, you’re a goddamn genius. here are my keys. go to my house and fuck my wife.
Robin (3★) · 6177 likes
@Sandra Bullock, I don't know what you're doing right now but the romantic comedy genre needs you back.
bre (4★) · 5921 likes
it’s always wyd and never marry me because i’d like to date you